英語の翻訳です。よろしくお願いしますm(__)m
Most billionaires work hard to build their fortunes. With the money they earn, they can buy large homes, expensive cars, and private airplanes. But even after spending millions of dollars, they still have huge amounts of money left over. What do they do with it?
Charity has always been an option. About 100 years ago, Andrew Carnegie, the world’s richest man at the time, gave away most of his money. His gifts went to thousands of libraries, schools, and other groups. Another big giver of the past century was John D. Rockefeller. He donated money to hospitals, universities, and other charities.
In recent years, we’ve seen a new group of super-givers. At the top of the list is Bill Gates.
In 1994, using money from his Microsoft fortune, he set up a charitable foundation. Now known as the William & Melinda Gates Foundation, it first helped US libraries get connected to the Internet. Then it turned its attention to fighting diseases like AIDS and malaria in poor countries. In total, from 1994 to 2013 the foundation gave away more than $28 billion.
In 2006, Warren Buffet announced that he too was giving away most of his $40 billion fortune. Buffet admires what Bill and Melinda Gates are doing. So, under Buffet’s plan, five-sixths of the money that he is donating goes to the Gates Foundation.
Will more of the super-rich become philanthropists? There is some doubt. Once a year, Forbes magazine puts out a list of the world’s richest people. Some billionaires really do care about their place on the list. To keep a high spot, they may choose to hold onto their money. But with the donations of Gates, Buffet, and others, that trend may start to turn around. More wealthy people may be inspired to try for a high spot on the list of super-givers.
